Nikon D3400 vs. Canon T6 – Which is the best entry-level camera?

When we invest our hard-earned money to something, we always aim to get only the best. For the simple reason of, we deserve it!

This is the main purpose of this article, to give everyone a clear picture of which of the two most popular entry-level DSLR camera choices are the best – Nikon D3400 or Canon T6. Alongside with everything you need to know when buying a camera.

Let’s start by knowing the basics of buying a camera which is looking at the weight and size, brand, and its strength and weaknesses.

When shopping for a camera, the first thing we notice is its weight and size. And looking at Nikon D3400 (we also have other comparison of Nikon D3400) and Canon T6, physically, you’ll immediately notice the advantage of one to another; depending of course to your preference.

*Note: Both batteries and kit lenses are not included in the size’s measurement.

Nikon D3400 vs. Canon T6

Next is looking at the camera’s brand. Every brand has an area of expertise, so, knowing this will give you an idea of the advantages you’ll have when you buy that certain brand. For Canon, they’re known for having a great lenses design selection and better autofocus tracking while recording; while Nikon offers more speed and budget-friendly models for their entry-level DSLR camera.

After knowing the brand you prefer, that’s when you start checking the cameras’ strength and weaknesses. But before we go on to their differences, it’s best to check first what they have in common. For Nikon D3400 and Canon T6, they have the following similarity:

Strength

APS-C sensors

Built-in Flash

External Flash Shoe

Viewfinder

RAW Support

Face Detection Focus

Max Resolution

LCD Screen Resolution

HDMI Out

Bulb Shutter

Weakness

Image Stabilization

Articulating Screen

Environmental Sealing

Optical Viewfinder Type

Focus Peaking

In-Camera Panoramas

Built-in GPS

External Microphone and Headphone Jack

Dual Card Slots

Slow-Motion videos

Review of Best Products – Nikon D3400 vs. Canon T6

Now that we know what they have in common, we can proceed to know their unique features.

Nikon D3400 Review

Compact yet powerful – This is how Nikon, and most users, describes the D3400 camera. As per examining the camera, D3400 is indeed a powerful camera as it offers Expeed 4 processor and 24.2MP sensor with no optical low-pass filter. This combination guarantees everyone a superb image quality.

Nikon also improved D3400 battery life, now you can capture up to 1,200 shots per charge.

Its other key features are:

New Lenses

The lens mount of D3400 is Nikon F and the usual lens kit that comes with its bundle is AF-P 18-55mm VR kit lens. But when Nikon launched D3400, it also announced two new lens which is AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED telephoto zoom lenses (one with Vibration Reduction while the other has none).

Since D3400 doesn’t have sensor-based image stabilization, Nikon designed 88 lenses that have an optical stabilization feature. So in total, D3400 has 280 lenses available.

SnapBridge Support

SnapBridge is a unique connectivity feature of Nikon. Using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), you can always stay connected to your smartphone and ready to sync all the images you capture. It also works well with Nikon Image Space, a cloud storage, and photo sharing site.

It has a one-time set-up and can be paired up to 5 smart devices.

The only downside of SnapBridge on D3400, you can’t use the SnapBridge application to remotely control the camera through your smart device. You’ll need to use an optional ML-L3 infrared remote to do it.

Autofocus System

Nikon offers one of the finest autofocus systems for their camera. And for D3400, Nikon provides an 11-point AF system that instantly acquires the subject with accurate focus. This is effective in high-speed shooting and low-light situations.

An automated focus may be advantageous but it can also cause shutter lag or other focusing speed-related problem. To avoid this, it’s advisable to use a much faster focusing lens.

Some of the advantages of D3400 to T6 are: it has a much better video, movie frame rates are 1080/60p over 1080/30p of T6. Also, D3400 has a faster burst as it shoots at a higher frequency of 5 flaps/ second over 3 flaps/sec of T6.

The only downside that most reviewers noticed in D3400 is its video features are not as impressive as the other cameras of its class.

The battery life of T6 is less compared to D3400 because it can only capture up to 500 shots per charge.

Its other key features are:

Lenses

The lens mount of T6 is Canon EF/EF-S and the usual lens kit that comes with its bundle is Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II zoom lens. But as I’ve mentioned earlier, Canon is known for having a great lenses design selection and the new in-demand choice for T6 is the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens.

This Telephoto Zoom lens is light and compact, so it’s ideal for everyday use. It also has the ability to magnify subjects from a far distance.

Same with Nikon D3400, T6 doesn’t have sensor-based image stabilization. So, Canon designed 91 lenses that have an optical stabilization feature. In total, T6 has 292 lenses available.

Built-in Capability

Unlike D3400, Canon T6 has a Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity that makes sharing and pairing your camera to smart devices much easier.

Also, wireless capabilities allow the users to remotely control the camera with the use of their smart devices. Just ensure your smart devices are compatible with the camera.

Auto Exposure Bracketing

T6 is one of the cameras that have an AE Bracketing option. Once this option has been selected, the camera will take two or more shots of your subject automatically and each result will have a different exposure.

So if you’re capturing high contrast scenes for HDR, this option is ideal to use.

One advantage of the Canon T6 over Nikon D3400 is it has an anti-alias filter. Anti-alias filter avoids/reduces unsightly artificial patterns to appear in images.

The downside that most reviewers noticed in T6 is it has a limited raw buffer at slow burst shooting and the movie capture features are pretty basic.

Nikon D3400 vs. Canon T6 Key Settings

In photography, one of the first things you have to do is familiarize yourself with ISO, aperture and shutter speed. These 3 are the major players of your camera setting as they control the light sensitivity of your camera’s sensor (ISO), the amount of light passes through the lens (aperture), and how long your exposure lasts (shutter speed).

Master these 3 and you’ll be assured that you’ll get the best image quality every time you shoot. Below is the comparison of Nikon D3400 and Canon T6’s ISO, aperture and shutter speed.

PRODUCT

ISO

APERTURE

SHUTTER SPEED

Nikon D3400

100 – 25,600

f/3.5 – 22 (W), f/5.6 – 38 (T); 7
diaphragm blades

30 – 1/4000

Canon T6

100 – 6400

f/3.5 – 22 (wide) / f/5.6 – 38 (tele)

30 – 1/4000

Sensor Size, Image Processor and Sensor Type Comparison

Sensor Size

Image Processor

Sensor Type

Nikon D3400

23.5 x 15.6 mm (24 MP)

Expeed 4

APS-C

Canon T6

22.3 x 14.9 mm (18 MP)

Digic 4+

APS-C

APS-C sensors are smaller compared to the full frame type. Both Nikon D3400 and Canon T6 have APS-C sensors. However, still, there is a difference in their sensor size.

The 6 MP advantage of Nikon D3400 will give you more freedom in cropping and enlarging your images without distorting them. Aside from that, Nikon D3400 has a 1.1x larger sensor area than that of Canon T6. This has some useful advantages.

Bigger sensors like that of Nikon D3400 allow photographers to have more control on the blurry background and depth of field. This is in comparison to the smaller sensors when shot using the same aperture and focal length.

As we all know, an entry-level camera should be user-friendly. Ease in handling one is a good criterion herein.

Another difference is the image processor. Canon T6 has a Digic 4+ processor. Whereby, Nikon D3400 has Expeed 4 processor. Simply put, Canon T6 sensor is a bit older and did not offer something new from its predecessors. On the other hand, Nikon D3400 EXPEED 4 processor has an ISO value of 25600 from 12800 of its predecessor. Other improved features are the better recording of Full HD (1080/60p) videos and the extended battery life.

What are you shooting?

Another important factor to consider in buying a camera is to know the type of photography you’re interested or considering to do. Every brand has an area of expertise, so, it’s best to choose a camera that’s good to use for what you do.

Below I’ll discuss 5 photography types that most people are interested in and each camera’s advantage.

Photography Type

Canon T6

Nikon D3400

Daily Photography

Average

GoodAdvantage
Larger APS-C sensor and the camera’s body is much lighter

Landscape Photography

Average

GoodAdvantage
Larger APS-C sensor and the resolution sensor is much higher

Portrait Photography

Good

GoodAdvantage
Larger APS-C sensor and the resolution sensor is much higher

Sports Photography

Good

GoodAdvantage
Focus points is higher, good battery life and low light ISO, and the average continuous shooting is higher

Street Photography

Good

GoodAdvantage
Larger APS-C sensor

More of Nikon D3400 Set Up

Conclusion

Overall, Nikon D3400 and Canon T6 are both good options to use in photography since they have a lot of features in common. Whichever you choose, you’ll be guaranteed to get a great image and video quality.

But if we have to choose between the two cameras, it’ll be Nikon D3400.

We chose D3400 because it’s more updated than T6 (since it was launched 5 months after T6) and weight-wise, it’s more lightweight and portable. You can bring it everywhere you go!

In terms of key setting, D3400 and T6 are almost the same; except for its ISO. D3400 has a higher ISO which means that it has more low light flexibility.

Not to mention that D3400 offers more megapixels with higher linear resolution; it provides much higher movie frame rates, has a faster burst that can shoot at 5 flaps/sec, can take more shots on a single battery charge and very flexible to use in any type of photography.

One of D3400 disadvantage is it doesn’t have Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity just like in T6. But you can still stay connected on D3400 with its built-in Bluetooth.